A day in the life
ASSISTANT MANAGER
We asked Ashleigh, one of our Assistant Managers, to describe a day in her role and why Wilderness Way felt like the perfect place to grow and make a difference.
We asked Ashleigh, one of our Assistant Managers, to describe a day in her role and why Wilderness Way felt like the perfect place to grow and make a difference.
Most days start with checking in on what’s happened overnight. I’ll look through the handover notes and incident logs and make sure everyone’s clear on the plans for the children that day.
I work closely with the Registered Service Manager across the two homes we manage, so we’re always checking in with each other about how everyone is doing.
Some days, the phone starts ringing the moment you switch it on. It could be a question from a parent, an update from another professional, or the team needing support straight away. Other mornings you get a bit more time to sit down with the staff and go through what’s coming up.
A big part of my day is supporting the Residential Support Workers and Senior RSWs. They come to me for guidance, reassurance, or just to talk through something that’s been tricky. Communication is always open and honest. If I can help, I will, I’ll explain why and point them in the right direction. We work things out together. It’s important they know they’re never on their own – we’re a team.
We’ll talk about the day’s priorities, appointments, education and therapy sessions and anything that might impact the children’s routines. Safeguarding is always our priority, and we make sure the team feel confident in how to respond if a child is finding things emotionally difficult.
Our aim is always the same: to make sure each child feels safe, understood, and supported, and that the team feel confident in how to deliver that care.
Part of what I enjoy most is working with the wider multi-disciplinary team, the therapists, education specialists and others. I might be on a call with a therapist about trauma-informed approaches or updating a learning plan with an education specialist. The important part for me is making sure that support becomes part of everyday life for the children.
One thing people don’t expect is the level of autonomy you get. Even as an Assistant Manager, your views are listened to, and you’re trusted to make decisions.
Because of that support, I get to spend time where it matters most, with the children and the team. That could be watching how things are going in the home, offering coaching, or spending time building relationships.
One recent moment really reminded me why I love this work. A young person we support went into a meeting with their local authority and he was able to share his views clearly and confidently in a way he couldn’t have done six months ago. Seeing him speak in a way that made people listen was really powerful. That’s the kind of progress that makes it all worth it.
“Seeing the difference in the children is what reminds me why I love this job. Watching a young person grow in confidence and find their voice, that’s the impact we’re here for.”
I didn’t start here as an Assistant Manager. I began as a Residential Support Worker in 2021, then became a Senior Support Worker before moving into management. I’ve seen the homes and services change over time, and it’s been clear that everything we do is genuinely focused on the children. The values here align with my own, and the support from the leadership team has made a real difference in my career.
There’s no such thing as a typical day, and that’s part of what I love about it. Some days you’re focused on planning and meetings, other days you’re right in the thick of supporting a child through a big moment. But every day is meaningful, and that’s what makes this role so rewarding.